Apparatus for making flexible shafting



Feb 22, C. F. HOTcHKlss JR APPARATUS FOR MAKING-FLEXIBLE SHAFTING med Aug. so, 194s e sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 22, 1944. Q F HoTCHKlSs, `JR 2,342,343

APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLEXIBLE SHAFTING Filed Aug. 30, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 /Ml ,g,

: I I I Feb. 22, 1944. c. F. Ho-rcHKlss, .m APPARATUS FOR MAKING `FLEXIBLE SHAFTING 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 30, 1943 czAE/vcff: orc/#megan Fell 22 1944. c. F. HorcHKlssQJR 2,342,343'

APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLEXIBLE sHAFTINc- Filed Aug. so, 194:5 y e sheets-sheet 4 M am Feb. 22, 1944. c, F. Ho'rcHKlss, .JR 2,342,343

APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLEXIBLE SHAFTING Filed Aug. 30, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 22, 1944.

c. F. HoTcHKlss, JR 2,342,343 APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLEXIBLE SHAFTING Filed Aug. so, 1945 6 Sheets-'Sheet 6 MINN Patented Feb. 22, 1944 UNITED asians STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLEHBLE SHAFTING Application August 30, 1943, Serial No. 500,585

2 Claims. I'Cl. 57-1) This invention relates to an apparatus for producing long lengths of flexible shafting, and more particularly to a semi-automatic machine wherein a supply of core or initially wound flexible shaft is fed from a supply reel and passed through a winding station where a plurality of Wires are layered in spirally Wound relatlon n to the core or initially wound shaft after which the flexible shafting is collected on a take-oit reel.

One object of the invention is the construction of a comparatively simple apparatus which will insure the even Winding on a core or initial- 1y wound shaft of a surface coat of spirally wrapped wires with means for alternately winding the successive layers in opposite directions.

A further object of the invention is to construct a machine of this character wherein substantially long cables may be wound with little attention on the part of the operator except to replenish the supply reel and remove the takeup reel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a compact exible shaft Winding machine which is driven from a single motor driven shaft with take-off pulleys for rotating the several adjacent longitudinally arranged stations or integrated units of the machine.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a complete flexible shaft winding machine showing the various combinations thereof and the driving mechanism:

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in cross-section of the core or initially wound shafting supply reel showing the manner of rotating the cage carrying the supply reel and the manner in Which the core or shafting is drawn therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in cross-section of the central station wherein the core or initially Wound cable is rotated and drawn through the machine while the individual wires forming the layer are placed thereon;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view partly in cross-section of the winding head or mechanism per se;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a similar View to Fig. 5 taken on line 5 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in cross-section of the take-up reel and traverse mechanism whereby the initially wound or finished flexible shafting is placed on a spool or reel;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmental view partly in section, of the traverse mechanism associated with the exible shafting pickup unit.

Referring to'Fig. 1, the apparatus may be conveniently broken down into cooperating units or stations A, B., C, D and E. A denotes the core or initially wound shafting supply reel and mechanisin for rotating and unvvinding the material carried on the reel. B represents a Wire supply station or stand for holding a plurality of spools of wire which are drawn off'and Wound on to the core or initially wound shafting as the core or initially wound shafting passes through the draw or winding tool C. D is the mechanism for positively drawing the core or initially Wound shafting through the winding tool C whereby the several wires of the layer being wound are spirally laid thereon. At station D the shafting is pulled through the unit and simultaneously rotated to insure that the Wires of the layer'will be laid up thereon at the proper degree of spiral pitch and compactness, while unit E is the takeup unit wherein the initially wound or nished shafting is collected on a driven takeup spool and uniformly built up thereon in smooth superimposed layers by means of a driven traverse mechanism or guide.

For ease of understanding, these several units or stations will be described in detail whereupon their cooperation and interdependence will -be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The three power driven units A, D and E are preferably individually mounted on suitable standards in longitudinally spaced relation with each unit driven from a common power shaft I, mounted in suitable bearings and running throughout the length of the composite machine. The power shaft I is driven by a motor 3, and while belts have been shown as the power transmitting mechanism to each driven unit throughout the apparatus, it will be understood that any other power transmitting medium may be employed.

In Fig. 2 the core or initially wound shafting supply spool or reel 5 is shown mounted in a rotatable cage made up of horizontal bars 1 equally spaced around the peripheries of end plates 9 and II. These end plates 9 and II in turn are mounted for rotation on axles I3 and I5 respectively. The hollow tubular axle I3 may be press fitted through an axial opening in the end plate 9 and extends outwardly from the end plate a suilicient length to pass through an antifriction bearing I'I secured in a sleeve I9 mounted on the vertical supporting frame 2|. Preferably, though not necessarily, the sleeve I9 holds the bearing II against the inner shoulder .2l and the bearing is maintained thereagainst by a nut 23 threaded on the hollow axle i3. A dust cap 25 is preferably fitted against the outer side of the bearing and the tubular shaft l 3 to protect the bearing and end structure from foreign substances. The opposite axle l5 attached to end plate ll is substantially similar in construction and mounting as axle i3, before described, and it is not thought necessary to detail the components thereof. The major difference being the drive pulley 2l attached to the shaft l5 which receives rotative movement through V-belt 29 passingV over ventional adjustable split belt pulley 3l mounted on the shaiting l. Control of the speed of pulley 2l is secured by an adjusting means 33 for varying the peripheral Contact of the pulley belt 2l? with the lower pulley iii. A belt tightener may also be interposed between the driving and driven pulleys. Thus it will be observed that when the axle l5 is rotated the cage i? will Aalso be rotated at the same speed.

The core or initially wound shaft supply reel 5 is mounted on a transverse shaft 39 having an the spool shaft 39 is screw threaded for engagement with a nut having an extension @l whereby the nut i5 may be rotated for disengagement with the screw thread on the shaft 39.

A disc of friction material i9 may be interposed Vbetween the nut 45 and the cage bar l to prevvent any slippage of the nut and a transverse reinforcing bar 5i is preferably placed across the opposite cage bar 1 parallel with the shaft 59 to insure proper rigidity oi the structure.

The supply reel 5 is of conventional construction and ordinarily comprises a hollow cylinder 53 with end iianges 55 and is mounted on a reel supporting shaft 39 passing through the central opening formed in cylinder part 53 with the side flange 55 abutting the enlarged head lll and the nut 45. A suitable friction dampening spring nger or rotation braking device 5l is employed to prevent the reel from freely unwinding and to maintain a slight drag or load on the reel. The successive layers of core material or initially wound shafting are wound as indicated at 59. This core or initially wound shafting is drawn ofi of the supply reel 5 through the hollow axle I5 provided with an apertured guide or funnel member El to insure the smooth take-ofi oi the material from the reel. One of the intermediate bars 'l may be fixed and the separable construction used in supporting the reel between the xed opposite cage bar 'l is such that a fresh supply reel may be quickly positioned in the unit.

The core or initially wound shaiting on the supply reel is synchronized with the intermediate Winding unit D as hereinafter described, and as the core or initially wound shafting 59 is drawn off it is given a twist or rotation due to the fact that the cage l is constantly revolved by the drive belt As the core or initially wound shafting `is positively drawn from the reel 5 by the unit D as hereinafter described, it passes through a winding tool C where the plurality of individual wires mounted on the standard B are brought into contact therewith and laid thereon the desired right or left hand lead. The wire supply unit B may take the form of a plurality of platforms iii on which are mounted a number of swivel spools b3 carrying wires 65 to be wrapped on the core or initially wound cable 59. Any desired number of wires may be unwound from the wire supply, as this is dependent on the size of the core, gage 0f wire and the like. These wires contact the core or initially wound cable 59 adjacent an apertured vertical plate Si, the core passing through a central opening therein and the layer wires 65 passing through circumierentially spaced openings therearound. As the rotating core or initially wound cable 59 continues to be drawn through the winding tool C the arrangement of the draw plate 6l previously described, runs up the wires in even spirals on the core or initially wound cable. The construction of the winding tool C may be of any form that will accomplish the purpose, although the preferred type of winding tool is disclosed in detail and claimed in copending application of George Eisenbeis, Serial No. 468,259, now Patent 2,328,792 dated September 7, 1943. As shown the winding tool is mounted on a standard 69 adjacent the winding head on unit D whereby the wound and unwind portions of the shafting are in axial alignment through the units described.

After the core or initially wound shaiting 59 is layered or wound with the wires 55, it is of greater diameter, as indicated at l5. The wound shaft i5 is positively drawn or advanced through the unit D having hollow axially aligned spaced shafts 'il and l. These shafts are mounted in antifriction bearings secured in bearing boxes supported on vertical frames on standards Bl and 83 respectively. The inner ends of the hollow shafts 85 and B? which are joined by a pair of spaced horizontal angle bars SS to form a cage somewhat similar to the cage described at station A. The shaiting l5 with its layer of wires $5 thereon is positively and continuously drawn through the winding head D and simultaneously rotated to layer up the wires 65 thereon as they are drawn through the winding tool C. This unit can be adjusted in such a manner that the lead of the spiral of the wire layer, the tightness thereof and its direction of rotation can be accomplished to Vmeet the requirements desired in the finished shafting.

The winding and advancing unit D is specifically shown in Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive. Here the pair of spaced horizontal cage bars 89 are anixed at their ends to the circular end plates ab and lll. The alternately spaced bars il? and t3 while secured to their respective end plates d5 and 5l do not extend from end plate to end plate but are out off and have their inwardly projecting ends joined by spaced right angle reinforcing bars lili and |92, for supporting the shafting advancing and rotating mechanism as will be hereinafter described. The left hand drive pulley HB5 secured to the tubular axle 'll is rotated through the medium of a belt iii? passing over a lower split pulley m9 attached to the main power shaft l. The drive shaft i and drive pulleys for the unit are mounted on the lower supporting brackets in a similar manner to that described for unit A.

' rEhe left hand hollow shaft 'll is mounted on the machine standard in antifriction bearing lil secured in a bearing block and with the inner end of the hollow shaft passing through an anti-,friction bearing H3 secured in an annular passage formed in the enlarged diameter portion of rotatable tubular member l i5. This tubular member is fixed with relation to end plate 55 so that the bearings Hl and H3 permit the hollow shaft ll to rotate freely. The inner race of intermediate antifrictionl bearing I I1 formed on the outwardly extending stepped shoulder I I9 of the end plate 85 is mounted in a recess formed in the bearing block whereby relative movement may occur between the hollow shaft 11 and the rotating cage defined by the bars 89, 91 and 99. The enlarged inner end I2I of the hollow axle 11 is toothed for engaging a gear |23 mounted on a fixed axle E25 passing through the end plate 85 and in parallel relation to the hollow shaft 11. Also carried on this axle |25 is a smaller pinion |21 which engages a second larger pinion |29 mounted on shaft |3| journalled in an end plate 85. The opposite end of shaft I3I is secured in an end bracket or bearing block |33 affixed to the outside of one of the bars |03 joining a. pair of the shorter cage bars 99. The opposite spaced press bar |03 joining the opposite pair of short cage bars 99 forms the support for two right angled axles |35 and |31 on which, are mounted presser wheels |39 and MI respectively.

The shaft |3| also carried an intermediate worm gear I which engages a worm pinion |53 carried on transverse shaft |55 whose ends are secured in opposite spaced cage bars 89. The transverse shaft |55 also carries a flexible shafting drawing drum |51 secured thereto. This drum may be pro-vided with upstanding parallel edges and fitted with a friction material around i its periphery, although this is not essential. A freely rotatable pulley |59 is carried on shaft IGI mounted between the other pair of spaced brace bars I9! that join the short cage bars 91. An additional brace bar or bolt |83 lying in parallel spaced relation to transverse shaft |55 joins the longitudinal cage bars 89 to give rigidity to the cage and the mechanism contained therein.

A pivoted resilient shafting guide finger or lever |85 is pivotally mounted on a rod |51 held between the spaced brace bars I0! with the end of the finger engaging the surface of the draw pulley |51 by means of coil spring |69. The opposite end of this spring is attached to an adjustable telescoping bar I 1I pivctally secured at one end to a fork member |13. The lower end of the fork is mounted on shaft |31 which also carries idler wheel Idl. The upper idler |39 mounted on shaft |35 is carried between the side arms of the fork, and due to the intermediate telescoping connection formed in the adjustable bar l1! permits the idler |39 to nor mally press against the periphery of pulley |51 or the shafting therearound. The normally fixed portion of the |1| is mounted in a block |11 carried between the brace arms I|l|. Adjustment of the fixed portion of the telescoping member is secured by taking up on the nut screw threaded to the end of the member.

The right hand hollow shaft 19 carries a drive pulley |8| driven by belt |83 engaging lower pulley |85 mounted on the power shaft I. As before described, the hollow shaft 19 extends inwardly and is attached to the right hand end plate 81. This shaft is mounted in an antifriction bearing |81 whereby when the pulley i8! is rotated the entire cage of the winding and shafting advancing unit is rotated. Through the mechanism previously described, the draw pulley |51 is also rotated when the hollow shaft 11 and its pulley |85 is rotated.

In operation the flexible shaft 15 is threaded through the winding unit and passed over the grooved idler |59 into engagement with pulley |51 and thence over lower grooved idler |5| and upwardly from the unit through right hand hollow shaft 19. The upper adjustable idler or presser wheel |39 carried in the fork |13 presses against the convolutions of the shafting carried by the drum. As the cage and pulley |51 are driven the shafting will be continuously drawn or advanced through the units and simultaneously the shafting is rotated to supply the wire to the core or initially wound shafting as itis drawn through the Winding unit C. The pivoted finger 65 maintains the convolutions of the flexible shafting fiat on the pulley |51 so that the convolutions cannot build up on one another.

Following the winding and drawing operation performed in unit D the shafting is drawn to the unit E where it is wound up on take-off roller I9|. The take-up unit, as far as the reel mounting and reel holding cage is concerned, is similar in construction to the supply unit A and need not be again described in detail. The differences in the takeup unit over the supply unit are primarily in the drive means for the takeup reel and the traversing mechanism for insuring the smooth winding of the convolutions and layers of the shaft on the takeup reel. The reely |9I is removably mounted on a detchable shaftV I 93 secured between opposite cage arms |95. In addition to the detachable feature of the shaft |93 as previously described with relation to unit A, the shaft carries a drive disc |91 mounted thereon beyond the end of the takeup reel but in contact therewith when the reel is placed and secured in the apparatus. This disc isrotated by means of a friction plate |99 carried on horizontal shaft 20| passing through a tube 203 having one end secured in anti-friction bearing 205. The end extension of shaft 203 passes through an antifriction bearing 201 and spring device 208 placed in the hub 209 whereby the bearing 201 is pressed against the shoulder 206 and keeps the plate I 99 in contact with disc |91. The end of the shaft 20| is supported adjacent the drive pulley 2|I secured thereto by an apertured end nut 2| 3.

In operation, when it is desired to collect and layer up shafting on the collection reel I 9|, shaft 20| is driven by pulley 2I| and belt 2|3 engaging the lower split pulley 2I5 attached to the main power shaft I. The rotating plate |99 engages the periphery of the friction disc I 91 and consequently rotates the takeup reel |9| in the proper direction and draws the incoming shafting 15 through the apertured guide 2| I fitted within the end of the left hand hollow shaft 2I9. Rotation of the collection reel cage is secured by driving shaft 2I9 through pulley 22| having a drive belt 223 passing over lower drive pulley 225 secured to the main shaft I. The inner end of the hollow axle 2I9 is rigidly fixed to the end plate 221 carrying one end of the spaced longitudinal cage bars |95. A traverse mechanism is provided for layering up the flexible shafting on the takeup reel and comprises a double traversing helix 229 having reduced diameter ends 23| mounted in bushings 233 carried in openings formed in opposite cage bars |95. The double traversing helical screw threaded cylinder 29 is rotated by means of a pulley 235 receiving movement by belt 231 secured to the takeup reel shaft |93. The drive plate |99 and friction member |91 rotating the takeup reel also drives pulley 239 for transmitting' this movement.

Also mounted between the cage bars |95 and in spaced parallel relation to the double screw threaded cylinder 229 is a rod 24| on which is sldably mounted a bracket 243, having an oblique bore formed in the enlarged portion 245 therein for the purpose .of carrying a guide rod 24'! to which is secured a plate 2139 havi-ng a seinicircular depression 25| in the outer edge thereof for engagement with the double traversing helical screw thread on cylinder 229. The plate 249 is urged outwardly by spring 253 to insure its constant contact with the threads on the traversing cylinder. Toe traversing bracket 25H carries a vertical guide rod 255 against which the incoming shaft 'i5 contacts and receives lateral lmovement for layering up the convolutions oi the shafting on the takeup reel in a uniform Inanner. Reverse or transverse movement of the guide rod 22,5 when the bracket reaches one end of its travel is accomplished by the constant engagement of the plate 22S with the double helical threads on the traversing cylinder. It is obvious that when the end of the traversing cylinder is reached the double thread will reverse the movement of the bracket carrying the guide rod and carry it in the opposite direction until it reaches the other end of the double thread. Occasionally the sliding bracket becomes 'hung up at the end of the thread, and to insure the return of the bracket and guide coil springs are mounted on the rod 255 abutting the side cage bars. Thus when the bracket 245 reaches the end of its travel and compresses one of the springs its resiliency will be sufficient to start the plate 255 into engagement with the return helical traversing thread.

After the length of core or initially wound shafting on the supply reel in unit A has been drawn through the machine and spirally sheathed as described, the collection reel in unit Ej is exchanged with the previous supply reel if a further layer of Wire thereon is desired. This interchange is continued until sucient layers have been laid up to form the finished flexible shafting. As before stated, the spiral layers are wound in opposite direction and this is readily accomplished by reversing the drive belts of the units or reversing the direction of rotation of the main power shaft l.

I claim:

l. A flexible shafting collection device cornprising a pair of outwardly extending hollow axles mounted in anti-friction bearings and circular end plates secured to oppositely positioned longitudinal side bars joining said end plates, a transverse axle detachably secured to said side bars, a collection reel mounted on said transverse axle, a drive disc secured to said transverse axle and abutting said collection reel, a drive plate in Contact with the periphery of said drive disc secured to an axle extending outwardly through one of said hollow axles, independent drive means for the other of said hollow axles and the drive axle extending through the rst mentioned hollow axle; the shafting to be collected on said reel passing through the independently driven second mentioned hollow shaft.

2. A collection device as defined in claim l wherein a traversing guide for directing the incoming shafting on to said collection reel in uniform layer is mounted between said side bars, and consists of rod and a driven double helically threaded cylinder lying in spaced parallel relation to said transverse reel axle, a bracket adapted ito slide on said rod, said bracket having a guide thereon for contacting and guiding the incoming shafting and a spring pressed finger engaging the double helically threaded cylinder.

CLARENCE F. HOTCHKISS. JR. 

